The reports are based on contributions and spending through last week. The election is June 5.

The three candidates are contending for the
1st District
seat that represents Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Wildomar, the Meadowbrook area and part of Riverside.

"It just means that this is going to come down to the wire," Jeffries, an
assemblyman
from Lake Elsinore, said of the latest campaign finance reports. "I honestly expected both of them to have more money than me. It's just tough to compete with Soubirous' unlimited union funds."

Jeffries said it is also difficult to compete with Buster's ability to raise money from a large number of donors as a result of contacts he has made during 20 years on the board.

Jeffries said he still has significant cash left because he has been frugal.

"They've both spent a ton of money on consultants and overhead, and we've been able to keep our costs low," he said.

Buster and Soubirous have raised more money this year.

Since Jan. 1, Buster has received $183,762 in cash contributions and Soubirous has received $174,460. Jeffries has raised $77,676, reports show.

But though Buster and Soubirous have raised substantial sums, Buster suggested there is a difference: His recent contributions came from 124 donors, while Soubirous has been funded primarily by a handful of public employee unions.

"His big union donors, they're not hurting in the recession," Buster said. "Their dues continue to flow in, so they can tear off $100,000 checks."

Buster was referring to twin $100,000 contributions the Riverside Sheriffs' Association made to Soubirous in November and February. Besides the $200,000 in cash, the union in March paid a $4,840 bill for a campaign billboard, reports show.

Soubirous also reported receiving $40,000 from Service Employees International Union Local 721, the union that staged a one-day strike against the county in January. The union has been highly vocal in its opposition to Buster.

Buster said the large sums underscore the need to establish contribution limits for county races.

Jeffries also mentioned the contributions Soubirous received.

"It's not like he's earned the funds that he's gotten," Jeffries said. "He's got a couple of unions that have written him huge checks. He gets two or three and he's set for the entire campaign."

Soubirous, in turn, criticized Buster and Jeffries for relying on personal loans of $85,000 and $50,000, respectively, to their campaigns.

Because of Buster's $85,000 loan to himself, Soubirous said, "I would think that he is pretty close to bottoming out. And I would think that Mr. Jeffries is pretty much in the same boat. The big $64,000 question is, are they going to spend that loan money?"